Farewell to My Evangelicalism

November 12, 2016

For years, I’ve been slowly losing garments of my evangelicalism. But after learning that evangelicals not only came out to vote in record numbers but did so in support of Donald Trump, I looked myself in the mirror and realized my last garment doesn’t fit on me anymore.

I admit that I’m close-minded — I’m close-minded towards anyone that uses racist rhetoric for political gain; towards anyone that blames people of color for what’s wrong with this country.

I’m close-minded towards anyone that calls for the killing of innocent families of terrorists.

I’m close-minded towards anyone that tells his supporters to use violence against those that disagree with them.

I’m close-minded towards anyone that does not correct or rebuke supporters that shout “nigger” and “kill Obama” in his rallies.

I’m close-minded towards anyone that demeans people and uses his wealth to bully them into submission.

I’m close-minded towards political patriotism; my country comes first, not my politics. I do not respect anyone who deliberately harms my fellow neighbor to advance their political agenda.

I expected, or rather, hoped that evangelicals would have their convictions shaken to the core before they casted their votes. For a moment, I thought they would put on pause their loyalty for the Republican party and show this country that, as representatives of Jesus, they would stand against hate. I would even have accepted 65% of evangelicals voting for Trump.

Instead, they had a record turnout, and all for a man who said to our faces, to my children, that he can shoot anyone on the street and not lose any votes. He might as well have said, “I’d crucify Jesus and still win the evangelical vote.”

What disheartened me most about evangelicals is not necessarily their votes for Donald Trump — they didn’t vote much different from past elections, but their constant defending of his — the best euphemism I can presently muster— shenanigans. Too many evangelicals have written articles, blog posts and comments justifying this man’s bigotry and disdain for human dignity, and in the same breath told us Hillary Clinton is somehow more evil than he.

I sincerely don’t care that evangelicals didn’t vote for Clinton. But I do care that they voted for Donald Trump, whose Pro-Choice position, misogyny, and multiple marriages are a far cry from their Republican pro-family values. Evangelicals did not vote for principle because Donald Trump literally does not have evangelical principles. They voted for their Republican tribe, regardless of their leader’s qualifications, morality and ethics.

And so I finally say farewell to my evangelicalism. I do not belong with you. I do not share your principles or convictions. I cannot support the man you elected president, a man who has used my ethnicity and browness to play on people’s fears and hatred for political gain. I’ll drink coffee with those that carry your label; I’ll love them and carry the cross on their behalf. But to you, I say goodbye.

Farewell evangelicalism. You glorify Republicans and demonize Democrats, regardless of your leader’s colossal moral shortcomings. I was going to vote for your party this year until Trump came along. With Trump as your standard, you have no relevance in criticizing the Jennifer Knapps, Rob Bells or even the Frank Phelps of this world.

Farewell, my once-deared evangelicalism. You’ve become the very ideologies Jesus is against — you gave to Caesar what belongs to God: your loyalty and faith. I can no longer partake of your lord’s supper.